Sweet corn on the cob selecting, trimming, and packaging machine



G. H. ROGERS Jan. 1, 1952 SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING ANDPACKING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet l` Filed April 17. 1948 Jan 1, 1952.- G.H. ROGERS CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE FiledApril 17, 194e 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l Jan. 1, 1952 Filed April 1'7.1948 G. H. ROGERS SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKINGMACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I2 ill EMI 5 P, IJNVENTOR.

Jan. l, 1952 G, H, ROGERS- I 2,580,599

SWEET CORN oN THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE FiledApril 17. 1948 1o sheets-sheet 4 i 2,580,599 SWEET CORN oN THE COESELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1948 G. H.ROGERS Jan. l, 1952 10 Smeets-Sheet 5 www.

w NNNWN 4 G. H. ROGERS Jan. 1 1952 SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING,TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1948 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 G.H. ROGERS Jan. 1, 1952 SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING ANDPACKING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 17. 1948 INVENTOR.

L; P www 2% j 07 Jan 1, 1952 G. H. ROGERS 2,580,599

SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE FiledApril 17, 1948 l0 SheeCS-Sheet 8 iiifomocmooxo @@cmo@@@efgcmoomool,f7/OMP? Jan. l, 1952 Q H, ROGERS 2,580,599

SWEET CORN ON THE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE FiledApril 17, 194e 1o sheets-sheet 9 2; al? SI5- q ,M I i /0'6 w 4 94 /0 f1@24 /ad V05 .gf *V3 96 6*/ 'I Jan. 1, 1952 G. H. ROGERS SWEET CORN ONTHE COB SELECTING, TRIMMING AND PACKING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 FiledApril 17, 1948 NNN@ Patented Jan. 1, 1952 SWEET CORN ON THE COBSELECTING, TRIMMING, AND PACKAGING MACHINE Grant H. Rogers, Fairmont,Minn., assignor to Fairmont Canning Company, Fairmont, Minn., acorporation of Minnesota Application April 17, 1948, Serial No. 21,584

14 claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in novel means for use inselecting, trimming and packaging sweet corn on the cob, and also anovel method of packaging the same. For the sake of brevity, corn on thecob will hereinafter be referred to as ears or ear of corn.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide novel means forconveying, in groups, selected ears of corn, each group comprising apredetermined number of ears individually held in definite relation toeach other.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for holdingand trimming ears of corn to a predetermined length.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofpackaging groups of ears of corn and in conveying the same during thepackaging thereof.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of thedevices and combination of devices and a novel packaging methodhereinafter described and dened in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

, Referring to the drawings:

Figs. 1, la, 1b, 1C and 1d are plan views showing progressive sectionsof the entire machine fromV the rear to the front thereof, some parts ofFig. 1a being sectioned on the line IL-Ivof Fig. 2a, portions oi. all ofsaid figures being broken away, a portion of Fig, 1c being sectioned andFigs. 1b, 1c and 1d and 2d further showing fragments of emptybox-conveying means and box-cover-conveying means, respectively;

Figs. 2, 2, 2b, 2c and 2d are elevational views 1, 1, lb, 1c and 1d,

jigs and ,fragments of the attached conveyor` sprocket chains and alsoshowing a sheet of cellophane spread on said jig together with a groupof ears of corn on the cellophane sheet;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation view of the packaging jig, shown in Fig. 8,some parts being broken away and sectioned;

Fig. l0 is a side view of the packaging jig shown in Fig. 8, and furthershowing the ears of corn wrapped in the "cellophane sheet and an emptyinverted box placed over the wrapped ears of corn;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the inverted box shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly insection taken on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 2a, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view, principally in elevation, ofcertain of the parts shown in Fig. 12, seme parts being sectioned on theirregular line l3--l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, principally in side elevation with someparts sectioned on the line |4-I4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary detail view, principally in side elevation,with some parts sectioned on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 1b.

The improved machine will be described from its receiving or rear end toits delivery or front end.

The rearmost section of the machine, which pertains to the selecting ofeatable corn on the cob, includes a pair of parallel endlesscontinuously moving inspecting belts I6 edgewise spaced apart. Each beltI6 runs over a large rear idle roll I1 and a driven front roll I8 of thesame size. The two idle rolls l1 are secured on a shaft I9 `iournaled inbearings 20 slidably mounted in ways'Zi on a frame 22 for the respectivesection of the machine. The bearings 2U are held, where positioned, bylong adjusting screws 23 having threaded engagement in `the ways 2l andafford belt tighteners. The rolls i8 are secured to a driven shaft 24journaled in bearings 25 onv the frame 22.

On one end portion of the shaft 24 is a large spurY gear 26 that mesheswith a small spur gear 2l' on a countershaft 28 journaled in bearings 29on the frame 22. Outward of the spur gear 2l on the shaft 28 is a pulley3l over which a belt 32 runs and driven by an electric motor, not shown.The lower run of each belt i6 'runs over a pair of directional rolls 33journaled in bearings 34 on the frame 22. One of these rolls 33 isrelatively close to the idle roll il and the other thereof is relativelyclose to the driven roll i8.

The frame `22 includes a pair of horizontal parallel angle bars 35 foreach belt i6 and the l inturned horizontal flanges thereof afford a pairof track rails 36 on which the longitudinal edge portion of the belttravels.

The vertical flanges of the angle bars 35 extend upwardly and affordside members 3l' that prevent the ears of corn on the belt l5 from beingdeflected therefrom.

Husked ears of corn on the cob are delivered onto the rear end portionsof the belts I6 by a conveyor belt, not shown, after having carried saidears of corn under overhead angling jets of water that thoroughly washthe same to remove corn silk, parts of husks and other loose particles.

It may be here stated that in actual usage of the machine, a long bench,for operators, Ona raised platform, not shown, will extend outwardly ofand parallel to each belt I5.

Operators sitting on the benches select the best ears of corn of nearlythe same size from the mass of ears on the belts i6, moving in front ofthem, and place the same on cornA jigs 59 on an endless continuouslymoving conveyor 55 between the two belts l5 and above the same.

The conveyor 39 includes a pair of endless sprocket chains 46 that runover a pair of idle sprocket wheels 4 l, at the rear end of the machine,and a pair of driven sprocket wheels, as will presently appear. Thesprocket wheels 4l are mounted on a shaft 42 journaled in bearings d3slidably mounted in ways 44 on the two innermost angle bars 55,V andlong conveyor tightening screws 45 have threaded engagement with saidways and impinge the bearings 43. The upper run of the chains llslidablyrest on the outturned horizontal flanges of a pair of angle bars 46 andwhich anges afford track rails 41 for said chains. Y The verticalflanges of the angle bars 46 extend downwardly and areV secured 4toshort posts 48 on the two innermost angle bars 35 and support the anglebars 46 therefrom.

Each corn jig 38 is in the form of a at rectangular plate 59 having apair of wide upstanding side flanges 50, each of which has in its upperface, as shown, four longitudinally spaced V- notches 5|. The notches 5Iin the two side flanges 50 are aligned transversely of the corn jig 58and afford two-part seats 52 that center the ears therein. These seats52 individually hold four ears of corn :r that extend transversely ofthe jig 38 with their end portions extending outwardly thereof to betrimmed, as will presently appear. To facilitate the packaging of thefour ears of corn a: and give the group thereof a symmetricalappearance, said ears are alternately turned end for end, as they areplaced on the jig 38, so that there are two big ends and two small endsof the ears of corn a: in each section of each seat 52. The lower run ofthe chained!) travels on track rails 53 supported by short posts 54 onthe frame 22, see Fig. 3.

'The corn jigs 38 overlierthe chains 49 and are secured thereto atlongitudinally spaced points and endwise spaced apart by pairs ofbrackets 55 on certain of the links in the chains 4D. These brackets 55extend into transverse channels 56 in the under sides ofthe corn jigs38, at the longitudinal centers thereof andare. rigidly secured to saidjigs, see Fig. '7. To hold the upper run of the chains 49 for straightline travel on the track rails 41,-the same run over and mesh with smallsprocket wheels 51 journaled on the depending flanges of the angle bars48 and work in apertures inV the track rails 41.

Surplus ears of corn on the beltsv l5 are discharged from front endsthereof onto'forwardy 4 and downwardly inclined chutes 58 on the frame22. Ears of corn on the chutes 58 slide downwardly bythe force ofgravity onto the lower end portion of an upwardly inclined elevator belt59 having transverse cleats 69. This elevator belt 59 extendstransversely of the belts I6 and runs over a lower idle roll 6l and adriven upper roll 62. The lower roll Slis journaled in bearings 63slidably mounted on a frame 64 and held where adjusted by longbelt-tightening screws 65.

The frame 64 includes a pair of inclined angle bars 66, the horizontalflanges of which extend inwardly and afford track rails 61 on which thelongitudinal edge portions of the belt 59 travel. The vertical flangesof the angle bars extend upwardly and afford side members 68 thatprevent ears of corn on the belt 55 from being delected therefrom.

The driven roll 52 is mounted on a shaft 69 journaled in bearings 19 onthe frame 64. A large spur gear 1| on the shaft 69 meshes with a smallspur gear 12 on a counter-shaft 13 journv naled in bearings 14 on theangle bars 66. The countershaft 13 is driven from an electric motor 15,mounted on a base 16, by a V-belt 11 that runs over a large V-pulley 18on said countershaft and a small V-pulley19 on the armature shaft 89 ofsaid motor;

The nextV or second section of the machine. shown inlFigs..1a, 2a, 12and 13, is directed toE novel means for trimming the end portions of theears ofrcorn-v a: on the corn jigs 38 and to novel means forfholdingsaid ears of corn in the seatsl 52 while they are being trimmed.

The trimming mechanism includes a pair of laterally spaced circularcutters 8l between which the conveyors 39 move the corn jigs 38 and feedthe ears of corn :t thereto. Thesecutters 8l are eachA provided with asectional hub 82 that extends axially therethrough and hold the cutters8| with a clamping action. The hubs 82 are tele scoped onto a shaft 33journaled in bearings 84 on a frame 85 which carries the respectivesections of the angle bars 46. A central sleeve 8, on the shaft 83between the cutters Bl is engaged at its end, by thehub 82 and holdssaid cutters spaced apart a predetermined distance that governs thelength of the ears of corn after they' have been trimmed by the cutters8 I.

The left-hand portion of the shaft 83, in respect to Fig. 12, is reducedin diameter and forms a shoulder 81 that affords a base of resistancefor the right-hand hub 82. A spacing sleeve 88 on the shaft 83 isinterposed between the left-hand hub 82 and the bearing 84. On thereduced end portion of the shaft 33 is a nut 89 and a short sleeveQuinterposed between said nut and the adjacent hub 82. This nut 89 andthe shoulder 81 hold all of the parts therebetween tightly clampedtogether so that the cutters 8l' rotate with the driven shaft 83. On theright-hand end portion of the shaft 83 isa large V-pulley 9i driven froman electric motor 9i8v on the frame 85. A V-belt 91h runs over thepulley 9| andv a V-pulley 91C on the armature shaft Qld of theI motor9|. Y

A pair of parallel bars 92 are closely positioned.. one to the outerface of each of the cutters 8l, for supporting the end portions of theears ofv corn z in order that they may be given cleanerA cuts by saidcutters. These bars 92 are secured by brackets 9 3 to theV angle bars46. Water is' water supply pipe95l on the frame 85 and leading.

directly under the cutters 8|.

from any suitable source of supply, under pressure. not shown.

The ears of `corn :c are yieldingly held in the seats 52, while beingtrimmed by the cutters 8|, by a pressure wheel, as shown, a smallpneumatic tire 96 that turns in a vertical plane midway between the twocutters 8| and over the moving corn jigs 3S. This tire 99 is mounted ona wheel rim 91 which, in turn, is mounted on an antifriction bearing 98on the shaft B3. The outer member of the bearing 9B is a rigid part ofthe wheel rim 91 and the inner member thereof is rigid with the shaft83, The purpose of this anti-friction bearing 98 is to permit relativeturning movements of the shaft 83 and the tire 96". The tire 96 ispartly lled with water 99 4to give the same adequate weight on theears-of corn :c and is inflated with suilicient air to give the same thedesired size, see Figs. 12 and 13.

The chains 40 are held for straight line travel on the track rails 41 byfront and rear pairs of sprocket wheels journaled in the vertical angesof the angle bars 46 and Working in slots |0| in the track rails 41, seeFig. 13. The purpose of these sprocket wheels |00 is to hold therespective sections of the sprocket chains 40 and thus successivelyguide the corn jigs 38 centrally between the cutters 8|.

Obviously, the tire 96 is turned by the transverse ears of corn .rmoving thereunder on the jigs 38 and held at the desired speed` by `afriction brake |92. This brake |02 is in the form of an L-shaped rod|03, the longitudinal section of which is intermediately pivoted at `|04to a crosstie bar |05 on the frame 85 for swinging movement transverselyof the tire 96. A coiled spring |06 anchored at one end to the crosstiebar |05, as indicated at |06', and attached at its other end to the rod|03 at its upper end and yieldingly holds the outer end of the shortsection of the rod l |03 in frictional contact with the section of theanti-friction bearing 98 on the wheelrim 91,

A refuse conveyor, indicated as an entirety by the numeral |01, extendsat its receiving end portion and transversely through the frame 85 Thisrefuse conveyor |01 is quite similar to the surplus corn conveyor and itis not thought necessary to further describe the same.

Referring now in detail to the corn transfer and packaging section ofthe machine that is just forward of the trimming section thereof: theconveyor 39 extends into this section of the machine and the sprocketchains 40 at their front end portions run over a pair of sprocket wheels|08 on a driven shaft |09 journaled in bearings H0 on a frame This shaft|09 is driven` from a gear reduction motor with a lvariable speed drive,indicated as an entirety by the numeral I2 with the exception of' thedrive shaft IIS axially aligned with the shaft |09 and connected`thereto by a coupling ||4-.

On each side of the conveyor 39 and extending forwardly thereof is aconveyor |5 for packaging jigs ||6. Each conveyor ||5 includes a pair oflaterally spaced endless sprocket chains ||1. The sprocket chains ||1 ofthe two conveyors ||5 have a lower horizontal run ||8, a semi-circularfront run H9, an upper run |20, overlying the lower run IIB, and a rearinclined run |2|. The sprocket chains 1, at the junction of the inclinedrun |2I and the r-lower run |0, run over and under large sprocket wheels|22. These sprocket chains ||1 also run under and mesh with small`sprocket Wheels |23 at the `sprocket wheels junction ofthe lower run 8and the semi-circular run I I 9 and over small sprocket wheels |24 atthe beginning of the upper run |20. The semicircular run H9, betweenVthe sprocket wheels |23 and |24, run over circumferentially spacedsimilar to the sprocket wheels |23 and |24. Finally, the sprocket chains||1 run over large sprocket wheels |29 at the junction of the upper run|20 and inclined run |2|,

The sprocket wheels |22 are mounted on an idle shaft |21 that extendstransversely over and above the conveyors 39 and ||5 and journaled inbearings |29 on the rear end portion of the frame The lower sprocketwheels |23 and the upper sprocket wheels |24 are journaled on the frameat the front end thereof, and the circumferentially spaced sprocketwheels |25 are journaled on a semi-circular frame |29 that forms aforward extension of the frame and is supported thereby. It is importantto note that the sprocket wheels |23, |24 and |25 of each pair for eachpair of sprocket chains ||1 are individually journaled to leaveclearance therebetween, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The .frame includes two pairs of lower angle bars |30, the inturnedhorizontal ilanges of which aiTord track rails |3| to the lower run |I|8of the sprocket chains ||1. This frame also includes two upper pairs ofangle bars |32, the inturned horizontal flanges of which afford. trackrails |33 for the upper run |20 of the sprocket chains 5|?. The sprocketchains ||1 during the semi-circular run ||9 travel on curved track railsections |34 on the frame |29 between the sprocket wheels |23, |24 and|25 of the several pairs.

The pairs of sprocket wheels |26 are mounted on a transverse shaft |35journaled in bearings |36 slidably mounted in ways |31 on the frame andangle bars |32 and long conveyor tightening screws I 38 have threadedengagement with the way |31 and impinge the bearings 36. Short curvedtrack sections|39 on the track rails |3| hold the sprocket chains ||1around the under sides of the sprocket wheels |22 and direct said chainsonto. the track rails |3|. p

The followingconnections are provided for driving theshaft |21 and hencethe sprocket wheels |22 and the packaging jig-equipped conveyors ||5from the motor drum shaft |09 to wit: a sprocket chain. |40 runs over asprocket wheel |4|`onthe shaft |09 and a, sprocket wheel |42 on an uppercounter-shaft |43 journaled in bearings |44 on' the frame A spur gear|45 on the countershaft |43 meshes with a spur gear |46 on a second orlower countershaft |41 journaled in bearings |48 on the frame a secondsprocket chain |49 runs over a sprocket wheel |50 on the secondcountershaft |41 and sprocket wheel |5| on a third countershaft |52jcurnaled in bearings |53 on the frame below the shaft |21. Finally, asprocket. chain |54 runs over a sprocket wheel |55 on the thirdcountershaft |52 and a sprocket wheel |56 on the shaft |21. A Eachpackaging jig ||6 is in the form of a substantially rectangular plates|51 between the sprocket chains ||1 of one of the conveyors ||5 and hason its under sidea, transverse bar |50 at its longitudinal center. Apair of brackets |59 connectthe bar |58, at its end portions, to certainof the `links in the respective sprocket chains ||1. During each cycleof travel of each packaging jig ||6, at certain positions in saidtravel. it oscillates between the sprocket `chain 111 to which 'itisattached; 'T'c'asrdworkin'g clearance betweenl a packaging jig ||6 andthe attached sprocket chain ||1,`the longitudinal edges of each endportion-of the jig ||6 are in converging relation. On each end of eachpack- 'a rear transverse upstanding pushing plate |6I and a frontparallel holding bar |62 for holding therebetween a group of four earsof corn removed from one of the corn jigs 38. This pushing plate |6| andholding bar |62 are spaced apart substantially equi-distant from thelongitudinal center of the packaging jig I|6.

It may be here stated that the corn jig conveyors 39 and the packagingjig-equipped conveyor I I travel at the same speed. An operator,Vpositioned at the outer Yside of each conveyor |'5, at the rear endportion of its lower run I |8 places a sheet of cellophane y on eachpassing packaging jig ||6 and then lifts a group of ears of corn a: fromone of the passing corn jigs 38 and places the same on 'the "cellophanesheet y transversely of the underlying jig and between the pushing plate|61 andthe holding bar |62, and folds the sheet of cellophane ytherearound to form a closed package. ,n

At the front end portion of the lower run ||8 of the conveyor H5 is anendless empty box conveyor I 63 that passes over said lower run I I8. Anoperator positioned within the conveyor |63 places inverted empty boxese over the cellophane wrapped ears of corn a: on the moving packagingjigs |I6 between the pushing plates I6I and the holding bars |62.

As the packaging jigs ||6 onieach conveyor I I5 are moved from the lowerrun I |6 to the semicircular run I I9, they pass under a semi-circulartrack |64 in the form of a flat plate secured to the frame |29 bybrackets |65. The pushing plates I 6| move the boxes z withv the packagejigs I |6 during their upward travel and'hold said boxes on the jigs ||6between the individual sprocket wheels |23'and |25 during the initialtravel thereof and during the uppermost travel of the jigs I I6, theboxes e are completely arighted and supported entirely on the track |64.

A semi-circular guide rail |66, substantially concentric with the track|64, is attached to the frame |29 by brackets |61 and limits theoutwardly swinging movement of the packagingjigs H6 during their upwardtravel.

Leading from the upper end of the semi-circular run ||9 on each conveyorII5 is an inclined chute 68 having` side members I 69 that first curvesrearwardly, outwardly and forwardly on the arc of a circle, and thenstraight downwardly. The forwardly and downwardly inclined straightsections of the two chutes |68 are in converging relation with theirouter ends closely positioned to discharge onto the receiving end portion of an endless conveyor belt |10. This belt |10 runs over a rearidle roll |1l and a driven front roll |12 journaled .in bearings |13 ona. frame |14. The idle roll |1| is journaled in sliding bearings |15 inways |16 on the frame |714. Belt-tightening screws |11 have threadedengagement with the ways |16 and impinge the bearings |15. A pair ofparallel horizontal angle bars |18 form a part of the frame |14 and theinturned horizontal iianges thereof aiford track rails |19 on which thelongitudinal'edge portions of the belt I 10 travel. Theve'rtlcal flangesof the angle bars extend upwardly and afford side members |80. The lowerrun of the conveyor belts |10 `runs overa directional roll |8| journaledin bearings |82 on the angle bar |18.

' The filled boxes .e having been turned right side up during theirtravel of the semi-circular run I9 of the conveyor I I5 rest on thetrack |64 and as they successively move ont@ the respective lnclinedchute |68, they move out of engagement with the pushing plates |6| andare finally freed from the packaging jigs ||6. The impetus given theboxes z, by the packaging jigs I6, just before they move out ofengagement with the pushing plates |6|, and momentum, start the boxes edownwardly on the chute |68 and the force of gravity-carries the same tothe end thereof and onto the conveyor belt |10.

An endless box cover conveyor |83 extends transversely over the conveyorbelt |10. An operatorv within the endless box cover conveyor |83 removesbox cover having capping Vflange, not shown, from said conveyor andplaces the same on the boxes e as they are successively moved past himon the conveyor belt |10 which completes the packaging of the ears ofcorn From the conveyor belt |10, the packaged ears of corn aretransferred to a freezing or refrigerating plant.

The upper runs of the inspection belt I6, the surplus corn belt 59, thebelt of the refuse conveyor |01 and the conveyor belt |10 will, inactual usage of the machine, be supported on decks or other supportingmeans, not shown.

While certain preferred embodiments of `my invention are shown, they areto be understood as illustrative only, as `it is capable of variations.es-

pecially true of the packaging section where def-V inite operations areentirely'dependent upon' the type of packaging box used, to meetconditions and requirements, and I contemplate such modifications ascome within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally disposed endlessconveyor operating in a vertical plane, directional means for guidingthe section of the conveyor between its lower run and its upper run,longitudinally spaced jigs on the inner side of the conveyor, each forholding an article capped by an inverted box, and a track close to andconcentric with the directional means on which the boxes at theirbottoms are held and moved by the jigs, said boxes, when moved by thejigs past the track, being removed in upright position from the jigs bythe force of gravity with the` articles therein.

2. The structure defined in claim 1further including Vconveying means onwhich the boxes -from the track are deposited. 3. The structure definedin claim 1, furtherincluding means on the jig for pushing the box on thetrack.

4. The structure defined in claim l, further including a slide forming acontinuation ofthe track on which boxes removed. from the jigs Vare de-Posited.

5. The structure defined in claim l, further including a secondconveyor, and means forming a continuation of the track on which rtheboxes removed from the jigs are deposited and moved to the secondconveyor. Y

6. The structure defined in claim 1, further including a second conveyorextendingforwardly of :the lower run of the first noted conveyor, and aslide forming a continuation of the track on which boxes removed fromthe jigs are deposited.

said slide being constructed and arranged to deliver boxes thereon ontothe second conveyor.

7. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the directional means and thetrack are semicircular.

8. The structure defined in claim 1, further including an inclined slideforming a continuation of the track on which boxes removed from the jigsare deposited, said slide being constructed and arranged to deliverboxes thereon in the direction oi' the movement of the lower run of theconveyor.

9. The structure dened in claim 1, in which the jigs are intermediatelypivoted to turn .an horizontal axes that extend transversely of theconveyor, said structure further including means for holding the jigsagainst pivotal movement while moving with the lower run of theconveyor.

10. The structure dened in claim 1, in which the jigs are intermediatelypivoted to turn on horizontal axes that extend transversely of theconveyor, said structure further including means for holding the jigsagainst pivotal movement while moving with the lower run of theconveyor, and a guard for limiting the pivotal movement of the jigsWhile moving with the conveyor past the directional means.

11. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally disposed endlessconveyor operating in a vertical plane and including a pair of laterallyspaced sprocket chains, directional sprocket wheels circumferentiallyspaced in a semi-circle over which the sprocket chains run between thelower run and the upper r-un thereof, longitudinally spaced boxconveying jigs intermediately pivoted to the sprocket chains forswinging move ment therebetween, means for holding the jigs l0 againstpivotal movement during the lower run of the sprocket chains, and asemi-circular track substantially concentric with the sprocket chainswhile running on the sprocket Wheels, said track and jigs being spaced adistance substantially equal to a box thickness in confronting relation.

12. The structure defined in claim il, further including track railsbetween the sprocket wheels for the sprocket chains.

13. The structure defined in claim 11, further including means forlimiting the pivotal movement of the jigs while moving with the sprocketchains past the sprocket wheels.

14. The structure dened in claim 11, further including a downwardlyinclined slide forming a continuation of the track.

GRANT H. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 619,541 Buttereld Feb. 14, 1899.645,862 Letson et a1 Mar. 20, 1900 1,243,406 Hawthorne Oct. 16, 19171,816,202 Bell et al July 28, 1931. 2,092,763 Le Frank Sept. 14, 19372,092,773 Nordquist et al Sept. 14, 1937 2,092,786 Taylor Sept. 14, 19372,109,365 Carll et al. Feb. 22, 1938 2,158,977 Douthitt May 16, 19392,190,936 De Back Feb. 20, 1940 2,271,957 Saiberlich Feb. 3, 19422,372,685 Schaich Apr. 3, 1945 2,429,488 Rodery Oct. 21, 1947

